Doctor Being Probed to Close Practice

Published 7:00 pm, Tuesday, January 28, 2003

A heart surgeon being investigated over scores of allegedly unnecessary procedures said he will close his practice because he's losing his malpractice insurance.

Dr. Chae Hyun Moon said Tuesday that he will tell his patients later this week to have their medical records transferred to other physicians and will suspend practice Saturday.

The offices of Moon, head of the cardiology department at Redding Medical Center, and fellow heart surgeon Fidel Realyvasquez were raided in October by federal officials looking for evidence of fraud.

According to court documents, the FBI is focusing on 167 people who died after invasive heart surgery. In addition, at least four lawsuits have been filed by patients who claim they underwent surgeries they didn't need.

"My malpractice insurance carriers have informed me that they will not renew my insurance," Moon, 56, said in a statement. "While I believe is this grossly unjust, as no legal charges have ever been brought against me, I simply cannot _ and will not _ practice medicine without insurance."

Personal injury attorneys have rushed to file hundreds of notices of intent to file lawsuits before the policy expires Friday. The insurance carrier won't be liable for claims made after that.

Redding Medical Center is owned by Tenet Healthcare Corp. and has been among its most profitable hospitals, largely because of its extensive cardiac program. Tenet is also under intense scrutiny amid allegations that the Santa Barbara-based hospital company overcharged public insurance plans.